Ocean Drilling

IODP Operations IODP scientific objectives require a heavy vessel for drilling deep sedimentary and crustal holes, a lighter vessel to provide widely distributed arrays of high resolution cores to address climate, environmental, and observatory objectives, and use of other drilling platforms, called Mission Specific Platforms (MSP's), for the Arctic and shallow water projects which can't be undertaken from the two primary IODP vessels.The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan has provided the heavy drillship Chikyu (Earth) to address deep drilling objectives in the new program. The Center for Deep Earth Exploration of the Independent Administrative Institution, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) operates the vessel for IODP.The light drillship JOIDES Resolution is provided by the US National Science Foundation. It is operated under contract to NSF by the U.S. Implementing Organization, an alliance between The Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Texas A&M University, and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University. After initial operations during 2004-2006, it is currently being rebuilt as a more capable vessel with larger, more functional labs and greater berthing.The primary provider of Mission Specific Platforms is EMA (ECORD Managing Agency) and the platforms themselves are operated by the European Science Operator (ESO).Overall management of the IODP is provided by IODP Management International (IODP-MI) through a contract with NSF.United States Science SupportSupport for participation and drilling-related research performed by United States scientists is provided by NSF. This support focuses on the following: Investigations of potential drilling regions, especially by means of regional geological and geophysical field studies. The feasibility and initial development of downhole instruments and techniques. Downhole geophysical and geochemical experiments. Support for research proposals to meet the scientific objectives of specific drilling expeditions. Grants resulting from these Expedition Objective Research (EOR) proposals will be for significant support to address the research objectives of the drilling expedition and are intended to begin in the period between the co-chief approval of the expedition sampling plan and the end of the sample moratorium period. NSF ODP encourages potential submitters to submit EOR proposals in time for the existing OCE target dates of February 15 and August 15. In addition, NSF will consider proposals for studies leading to long-range definition of future drilling objectives.To be considered for support, proposed projects should be clearly relevant to the drilling plans of the international drilling community and focus on predrilling or drilling concurrent activities. Post-cruise studies should generally be submitted through other appropriate NSF programs such as Marine Geology and Geophysics, Earth Sciences, Polar Programs, etc.Additional support for United States scientists may be obtained via the JOI U.S. Science Support Program. This NSF-sponsored program consists of the following elements: Planning activities, such as workshops, to define concepts and develop problem-related drilling programs, including United States participation in IODP Scientific Advisory Structure Support for United States scientists participating on drilling expeditions and for necessary follow-up studies needed by all or most other participating scientists Site surveys and data syntheses to develop the context for drilling Educational programs Development of instrumentation for downhole experimentation Dissemination of IODP results Support for a U.S. Science Advisory Committee (USSAC) to interact with the the U.S. scientific community and the NSFExternal Links to IODP SitesIntegrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Includes application to participate in drilling Expeditions.IODP Management International-The central management organization for IODP.U.S. Implementing Organization-Operator of the light drillship.CDEX-the operator of the heavy drillship Chikyu.ESO-the primary operator of Mission Specific Platforms.